Grinder with meshing teeth for knives, etc.



July 28, 1953 B. K. MURCHISON 6,653

GRINDER WITH MESHING TEETH FOR KNIVES, ETC

Filed D80. 31, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4O 43 INVENTOR.

v BLACKWELL K.MURCH|SON ATTORNEY July 28, 1953 B. K. MURCHISON 2,646,653

GRINDER WITH MESHING TEETH FOR KNIVES, ETC

Filed D60. 31, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BLACKWELL' K MURCHISONATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1953 GRINDER WITH MESHING TEETH FOR KNIVES,ETC.

Blackwell K. Murchison, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments,to Bessie F. Murchison,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,516

2 Claims. (01. 51-111) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in devices for sharpening, honing, polishing or finishingknives, strips ofmaterial, and other objects and materials of square,round, rectangular, and other forms and shapes. Subsequently in thisspecification, and in the claims, the word grinding and its derivativeswill be used in its broadest sense to mean grinding, honing, polishing,finishing, etc.

At the present time the commonly used grinder l comprises merely a discor wheel of vitrified, resinoid, rubber and other materials in whichabrasive grains are embedded, or which have natural abrasive grains. Theuse of a grinding wheel of this type requires great skill. An un skilledperson attempting to grind a knife, or other implement or object, orarticle on these grinding discs and wheels usually makes a very poor,job of grinding, and in addition unduly wears away the article beingground. The reason for this is that it requires skill and experience toplace an object at the proper angle against the grinding disc or wheel.It requires skill and experience to engage the object against thegrinding element at a proper pressure. In addition to these skills it isalso necessary that the object be moved correctly without unduewobbling. An.- other great fault which inexperienced persons are guiltyof is that they permit the blade of a knife or a strip of material orother object, to flex or bend across the grinding face so as to strikethe corners of the grinding disc or wheel. When this occurs the disc orwheel seriously damages the edge or face attempted to be ground.

Besides grinding discs and wheels there are any number of othercontraptions for grinding various objects and articles. However, thesedevices are merely makeshift and inferior to grinding discs and wheelsand are not used by skilled persons. Other persons using these devicescannot possibly obtain as good results as skilled persons using grindingdiscs and wheels.

The dominating object of this invention resides in providing a device ofthe class described for grinding, which is characterized by a pair ofadjacent members or discs having a. series of teeth on each of theiradjacent faces, and said series of teeth meshing with each other inorder that said members or discs may be moved apart and together whilemaintaining said series of teeth in partial or full mesh with each otherso that said series of teeth, or said members or said discs, or both themembers or discs and the series of teeth may be provided with grindingworking surfaces exposed to different extents, depending 2 upon theextent of mesh of said series of teeth and particularly adapted forgrinding various articles and objects such as knives, scissors, stripsof material, rods and the like. The strips of material and other objectsmay be squares, flats, of V-shapes, and other shapes.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that one ormore of the working surfaces of the members ordiscs or the series ofteeth, may operate simultaneously for. grinding both edges of a knife,or two or more sides of an object.

In accordance with thisinvention, the adjacent members or discs may befixedly or adjustably mounted upon a rod, or shaft, or square bar, orother bars or strips, etc. of different cross sectional shapes.

It is further proposed, in one form of the invention, that the membersor discs be resiliently urged towards each other for automaticallyproviding pressures between. the grinding working surfaces and faces ofthe article being operated upon, or the members or discs may be fixedlymounted in selected separated positions for particular jobs.

In accordance with thisv invention the working surfaces may be at anyangular position relative to each other, and said surfaces may bestraight or curved, in order to operate on various shapes and sizes ofarticles.

Another dominating object of this invention resides in providing agrinding device which may be in the form of discs or wheels, but neednot necessarily take this form, and which controls the angle at which aknife or strip of material or other object to be ground is engagedagainst the working or grinding faces or surfaces thereof. It is alsoproposed to so arrange the device that there is a, mechanical control ofpressure between the knife or other article being ground and thegrinding faces of the working surfaces of the grinder. It is alsoproposed to so construct the new grinder that the article to be groundis held against wobbling and against engaging against the corners of thegrinding faces or surfaces of the grinder.

More particular, in another form of the invention, the inventionproposes a new grinder which is characterized by a pair of adjacentmembers having outer. edges. It is proposed that a series of teeth beformed or mounted on each of the adjacent faces of said members and thatsaid series of teeth mesh with each other. It is proposed that eachtooth of said series of teeth extend inwards from the outer edges of themembers, and that each tooth have a base, sides and a grinding workingface or surface inclined away from its base in the direction of saidouter edges inwards. It is further proposed that said working faces ofsaid series of teeth form a V-shaped space into which the edge of aknife or strip of material, or other object, may beengaged from theoutside of said members in order that said knife or object may be movedinwards to selected distances by camming said series of said teeth apartfor controlling the depth of grinding, and controlling mechanically tosome degree the pressure between these parts, and controlling theguiding of the knife or object so that it does not wobble or flex orbend as said knife or object is moved relative to said working faces 0rsurfaces.

With the new construction of -grinder, in accordance with thi invention,the grinding faces or surfaces simultaneously engage both sides of theknife or other object being ground for more securely supporting theknife or object for reducing the time required to grind the knife orobject since both sides of the edge arebeing ground simultaneously forcovering a larger surface of the edges to be ground than is the casewith the grinding discs and wheels and other devices now known, and forreducing the skillrequired to properly grind knives and other objects.Moreover, certain of the objects will be automatically centered. Otherobjects will be simultaneously operated on two, three or more sides.Round obiects will be turned for automatic centering.v

It is also proposed to provide means for movably connecting said membersto move along an axis towards and awayfrom each other in order toaccommodate thicker and thinnerknives and objects, and in orderto setthe'grinding working faces or surfaces properly against the articlebeing ground. The members may be mounted on a round, square or othershaped rod or shaft.

It is also proposed to provide resilient means for urging said memberstowards each other for providing the pressure between the knife orarticle being ground and the grinding faces 0r surfaces. It is proposedthat this resilient means be adjustable, or fixed to predeterminedpressures. With the new grinder, in accordance with this invention, itis impossible for the operator to engage the knife or other article withtoo much or too little pressure against the working surfaces aspractically no pressure is required by the operator as the article ispushed and pulled back and forth against the surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to limit the movement of saidmembers towards and away from each other from passing predeterminedlimitations so that the grinding working faces and surfaces are alwaysin proper working positions.

In accordance with this invention the series of teeth on the members maybe integral with the members, or may be stamped out therefrom, or may.be mounted thereon, or may be connected in other ways. t is proposedthat the teeth of said series of teeth and the membersbe made ofvitrified, resinoid, rubber or other materials impregnated with orhaving natural abrasive grains.

In accordance with this invention the members and the series of teethmay be. arranged in the form of discs or wheels, or segments of discs orwheels, or of other shapes and forms.

In accordance with this invention the said series of teeth may compriseteeth of various shapes and forms. These teeth may be radial with 4straight sides, or of other shapes and forms depending merely up-ondesign.

In accordance with one form of this invention the angles of the grindingworking faces and surfaces which form the V-shaped space previouslyreferred to, into which the edge of a knife or other object may beengaged for grinding, may be of pro-selected angles. In fact, grindersmay be made with various angles so that the purchaser may select whichparticular grinder best suits a particular knife or other object to beround.

In accordance with this invention the new grinder when in disc or wheelform may be motor driven, or driven in any other manner. The new grindermay be embodied in a great number of forms. Besides being motor drivenit is conceivable that the members with the teeth may be stationary ormanually moved at desired speed. It is proposed that braking mechanismbe associated with hand models for controlling the drag between theknife or other article being ground, and the grinding working faces andsurfaces.

It should be clearly understood that the grinding working faces andsurfaces of the grinder may come in various degrees of fineness. orcoarseness of grains in order to do grinding, honing, polishand durableand which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a. material part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. l is'a fragmentary side elevational view of a grinder constructedin accordance with one form of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l but fromwhich one of the members with the series of teeth has been removed so asto clearly show the other member with its teeth.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another grinder embodying thisinvention, but of modified form.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of still another grinderembodying this invention but of still further modified form.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 6-- 5 of Fig. 5but illustrated with one of the members removed so that the other mem-'ber and its series of teeth may be clearly seen.

Fig. '7 is an end view of another grinding device embodying another formof this invention.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. '7 with a portionthereof in section as though taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an end view of still another grinding device embodying anotherform of this invention.

Fig. 18 is a front view of Fig. 9 with a portion thereof shown insection as though taken on the line Ii!l8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an end view of still another grinding device embodyinganother form of this invention.

Fig. 12 is a front View of Fig. 11 with a portion thereof shown insection as though taken on the line l-2i 2 thereof. a

Fig. l'3-is another front View of stiil another grinding deviceembodying still another form of this invention, a portion thereof beingshown in section similar to the showing in Figs. 8, l

and 12.

The grinder, in accordance with that form of the invention illustratedin Figs. 1-3, includes a pair of adjacent member II] having outer edgesH. A series of teeth [2 are formed on each of the adjacent faces of saidmembers I0 and said series of teeth of said adjacent members l0 meshwith each other. Each tooth of said series of teeth [2 extends inwardsfrom said outer edges ll of said members 10, and has a base l3, sidesHLand a grinding working face or surface I inclined away from its basei3 in the direction from said outer edges l-l inwards. Said workingfaces -l5 of said series :of teeth l2 form a V-shaped space It intowhich the'edge of a knife or strip of material or other object may beengaged from the outside of said backing members In in order that saidknife or other object may be moved in,

-sies of teeth 12 apart for controlling the depth of grinding and forsupporting the knife or other objects simultaneously at both sides forreducing wobbling and flexing of the knife or other article as it ismoved backwards and forwards, or in any other direction, or manner,relative to said working faces of surfaces I5.

The members are associated with means by which they are movablyconnected to move along an axis towards and away fromeach other. Thismeans includes a shaft or rod 18 extending coaxially through the membersIt. An internal bushing 19 is fixedly mounted in each member it andengages upon the rod I8 and is fixedly connected upon the rod i8 withkeys 20. Washers 2 i are engaged against the sides of the members Iii.Triangularly shaped flexible spring washers 22 are mounted on the rod I3and engage the sides of the washers 2|. Smaller washers 23 engageagainst the outer sides of the flexible washers 22. One of the smallwashers 23 is held fixed by a pin '24 mounted through the rod 18. A nut25 threadedly engages on the rod [8 and engages the other small washer23. The nut 25 may be adjusted for controlling the resilient actions ofthe spring washers 22 as the members I 0 are cammed apart when a knifeor other object is forced inwards into the V-shaped spaces I E. The keys2!] prohibit rotation of the members H] on the rod l8, but permitlongitudinal movement of the memhers ii so that they may slide towardsand away from each'other. Pins 26 are mounted on the rod 18 and limitsliding-of themembers H] to predetermined positions towards each other.

- It is pointed out that the flexible washers 22 constitute resilientmeans for urging the members l0 towards each other. Obviously, resilientmeans of other types and designs may be used for this purpose. The pins26 comprise means for limiting the movement of the members In towardseach other from passing a predetermined minimum amount for controllingthe minimum size of the V-shaped spaces Hi. The teeth of said series ofteeth i2 are illustrated as radial and having straight sides. However,it is important to remember that these teeth may be of other shapes anddesigns as long as they mesh with each other and as long as they areprovided with grinding working faces or surfaces l5.

In the particular design shown on the drawing the working faces orsurfaces incline away from their bases l3 to the points 28 and thencurve and inclined towards their bases I3. This is merely a matter ofdesign, and theywere so constructed to provide additional room near thebushings [9. In this particular form of themvention an electric motor orprime mover 30 is connected to drive the rod l-B. V

The operation and use of this form of grinder may be understood from thefollowing:

The electric motor 30 is energized so that the rod or shaft l8 rotatesand carries along the members H). To sharpen a knife or strip ofmaterial, or other suitable object, the edge thereof is merely engagedinto the V-shtp-ed spaces It and the knife or object is moved forwardsor backwards, or forwards and backards, alongthe V-shaped spaces 56while the members In are rotating. Itis merely necessary that the knifebe pressed downwards with suflicient force so that the sides of its edgeengaging against the inclined working faces or surfaces l5 cams apartthe series of teeth 12 to a desirable amount so as to engage the knifedown to a proper depth. The spring washers 22 provide the necessaryresilient pressure of the working faces or surfaces l5 against the knifeor other object. The inclined working faces and surfaces [5simultaneously engage both sides of the edge being ground for assistingthe operator in suitably holding the knife or object in a firm positionagainst wobbling.

Since the knife or object is merely moved backwards and forwards withoutrequiring that it be pressed laterally in one direction or the otheragainst a grinding face or surface there is no tendency for the knife tobend or flex. Moreover, it is held against bending or flexingparticularly at the area being ground by the working faces and surfacesI5 which are engaging the sides of the edge of the knife or object. Theknife or object is engaged into the V-shaped space It merely in anupright position. The inclination of the WOl'klllg faces or surfaces I5provide the necessary angle with the knife or object. From this it isreadily seen that little skill is required to grind a knife, or otherobject When contrasted with the skill required for using a conventionaldisc or wheel shaped grinder.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed whichdistinguishes primarily from the prior form in the fact that it is notmotor driven but merely a manually operated grinder. More specifically,a handle 3! is connect-ed with a rod 32. Two independent grindingdevices 33 are mounted upon said rod 32. These grinding devices '33 areidentical in construction to the grinder mounted on the rod l8 asdescribed in the prior form, and similar parts are identified by likereference numerals. However, in this form of the invention the keys 20are not used so that the members it are rotative on the rod 32. Brakemeans 34 is associated with the grinders 33. This brake means 34comprises a member or strip 35 mounted on the outer end of the rod 32and provided with friction elements 31 engageable against an edge ofeach of the members It.

The strip35 has an end portion 52 which is secured to the ,end of therod 32 with a screw 53. A portion of the strip 35 extends across and isspaced slightly from the grinders 33. The strip 35 also has a handle end54 extending along the handle 3|. A headed stud 55 is mounted on thehandle 3| and passes through an opening in the handle 54 for preventingthe latter from moving outwards .too far. When desired, the handle 54may be pressed towards the handle 3| to flex the'strip 35 and cause thefriction elements 31 to .engage'against the edges of the backingmembersrloat selectedipressures. In this way the ,7 drag between a knifebeing manually moved back and forth through the V-shaped spaces I6 ma becontrolled.

It is proposed that the grinders 33 be of different fineness of grain.For example, one may be relatively coarse and comprise a sharpeningdevice, while the other may be fine and comprise a honing or polishingdevice. To grind a knife or other object it is merely necessary to firstwork it upon the coarse sharpening device and then to finish thesharpening by working it on the fine grain device. The knife or objectis Worked on these devices merely by engaging its edges into theV-shaped spaces and manually drawing it backwards and forwards. Thecoarse grain device 33, the one illustrated at the left, may have itsbrake means 34 set so as to provide a suitable drag to more rapidlysharpen the knife or other object. In the fine grain grinder at theright the members I are freer to rotate so that the honing or polishingeffect is obtained when the working faces move up and down across theedge of the knife or other object as it is being moved back and forthalong the V-shaped spaces.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another modified form of the invention has beendisclosed which is very similar to the .prior forms but distinguishes inseveral ways. In this form, a stationary non-circular rod 38 slidablysupports a pair of adjacent memhers 49. These members 4% havenon-circular openings so as to be non-rotative but slidable on the rod38. The members 40 have outer edges ii. A series of teeth 32 is disposedon each of the adjacent faces of said members 48, and said series 42 ofteeth mesh with each other. Each tooth of the series of teeth 42 isseparate and mounted in a bracket or holder 43, which in turn is mountedon the member 40. Each tooth of said series of teeth 42 extends inwardsfrom the outer edges 4| of the members 40 and is provided with a base44, sides 45, and a grinding working face or surface 46 inclined awayfrom its base 44 in the direction of said outer edges 4| inwards. Saidworking faces 46 of said series of teeth d2 form V-shaped spaces 41 intowhich the edge of a knife or other subject may be engaged from theoutside of said backing members 46 in order that said knife or strip maybe moved inwards to selected distances by camming said series of teeth42 apart.

Washers 48 are mounted on the rod 38 and engage against the sides of themembers 40. Spring washers 49 are mounted on the rod 38 and engage thewashers 48. Small washers 50 engage the spring washers 49. A pin 5| ismounted through the rod 38 and engages one of the washers 50. The otherwasher 50 is engaged by a nut 52 threadedly and adjust-ably mounted onthe rod 38. The members 40 are of arcuate shapes, as clearly shown inFig. 6. They may be of other shapes.

The operation and use of this form of the invention is substantiallyidentical to the prior form. The rod 38 is held stationary while a knifeor other object is engaged in the V-shaped spaces 4! and moved back andforth.

In Figs. 7 and 8 another form of the invention has been disclosed. Inthis form there is a. pair of adjacent members or discs 50 and Si,respec tively, having a series of teeth 62 and 63, respectively, onportions of their adjacent faces. Said series of teeth 62 and 53 meshwith each other in order that said members or discs and 6! may be movedapart and together while maintaining said series of teeth in partial orfull mesh with each other. The outer edge portions of said series ofteeth 62 and 63 comprise grinding surfaces. Moreover, the face 64 of themember or disc 50 and the face 65 of the member or disc El also comprisegrinding surfaces. The surface 64 is flat and straight, while thesurface 65 is frusto-conical so as to extend at an angle to the surface64. The members or discs 60 and Bi are mounted on a rod or shaft 66 withset screws 61 in order that said set screws may be loosened and themembers or discs 60 and El shifted along the rod 66 to selectedpositions for controlling the mesh of the series of teeth 62 and 6.3.

The operation and use of this form of the invention essentially consistsin engaging an object, such as the blade of a pair of scissors againstthe fiat working surface 64 and simultaneously against the conicalworking surface 65 in order that both the edge and the inner face of theblade of the pair of scissors will be ground simultaneously by movingthe blade back and forth while the rod or shaft 65 is driven. Thepurpose of separating or moving the members or discs 50 and 6! togetheror apart is that fresh working surfaces of the series of teeth 63 arethus exposed for use.

In Figs. 9 and 10 still another form of the invention has beendisclosed. In this form there is a pair of adjacent members or di cs 10and H having a series of teeth 12 and 13, respectively, on theiradjacent faces 14 and 15. These series of teeth '12 and i3 mesh witheach other and have their ends engaging into complementary recesses 16and H formed in said adjacent faces i i and '55 in order that saidmembers or discs iii and H may be moved apart and together while whilemaintaining said series of teeth 12 and 13 in partial or full mesh witheach other. The members or discs 10 and H are mounted on a rod or shaft78 with set screws 19. The series of teeth 12 and E3 have their outerfaces or surfaces formed as grinding faces or surfaces exposed todifferent extents, depending upon the extent of mesh of said series ofteeth 12 and 13. These working faces or surfaces are concave.

The operation of this form of the invention may be understood from thefollowing:

Rods and other shapes may be engaged between the working faces i4 and 15and the working faces of the teeth 12 and [3 for grinding said rods orobjects. It is possible to rotate round rods or objects as they areengaged against the curved working surfaces of the teeth 12 and T3 forcenter-less grinding of the rods.

In Fig 11 and 12 still another form of the invention has been disclosed.In this form there is a pair of adjacent members or discs Bi] and 8|having a series of teeth 82 and 83 on their adjacent faces 84 and 85,respectively, meshing with each other in order that the members or discsat and 88 may be moved apart and together while maintaining said seriesof teeth in partial or full mesh with each other. Said series of teeth82 and 83 have grinding working surfaces upon their outer edges.Similarly, the adjacent faces es and 85 constitute grinding surfaces.Said members 88, iii are adapted to be moved apart or together forexposing the working surfaces of the series of teeth to differentextents depending upon the extent of mesh of said series of teeth 82 and83.

The members or discs 86 and 8| are adjustably mounted on a rod or shaft85. Keys 87 are arranged to key together the rod or shaft 86 with themembers or discs 80 and 8| in a manner so that the members or discs 88and 8| are free to move longitudinally through small distances on therod or shaft 86. A resilient washer 88 engages against the end of themember or disc 80 and is held in position with a fiat washer 89 and apin 80 engaged through the shaft or rod 88. The member BI is resilientlypositioned by a flat washer 9i engaging against its end, a spring washer92 engaging the flat washer 9|, and with a nut 93 threadedly engaged onthe rod or shaft 86. The outer edge portions of the working faces orsurfaces 84 and 85 are formed with bevelled portions 94.

The operation and use of this form of the invention may be understoodfrom the following:

Various objects may be forced in between the working faces 84 and 85 bycamming them down between the bevelled portions 94. These objects may beengaged down against the working faces or surfaces of the teeth 82 and83. Therefore, when the shaft or rod 86 is driven the objects will besimultaneously operated upon their opposite faces and their edge whichmay be of V-shape to correspond with the V-shape of the space betweenthe Working faces of the teeth of the series of teeth 82 and 83.

In Fig. 13 still another form of the invention is disclosed which isessentially the same as that disclosed in Figs. 11 and 12,distinguishing merely in the shapes of the teeth 82' and 83. The outeredges of the teeth 82' and 83' are cylindrical, while the correspondingworking faces of the series of teeth 82 and 83 were frustoconical.

In other respects this form of the invention is identical to theprevious form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially identicalto the prior form, except for the fact that it is adapted to work on twofaces and the edge of a strip of material, and upon other objects anddevices which may be operated upon two sides and an edge simultaneously.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is 10 to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a rod, a handle on one end ofsaid rod, a disc shaped grinder coaxially mounted on said rod, a stripof flexible material attached at one end on the free end of said rod andextending adjacent said grinder and having an end portion spacedadjacent said handle, and a friction element mount ed on said strip andengageable against said grinder when the last mentioned end portion ofsaid strip is moved towards said handle.

2. In a device of the class described, a rod, a handle on one end ofsaid rod, a plurality of disc shaped grinders coaxially mounted on saidrod, a strip of flexible material attached at one end on the free end ofsaid rod and extending adjacent said grinders and having an end portionspaced adjacent said handle, and a friction element for each of saidgrinders mounted on said strip and engageable against said grinders whensaid last mentioned end portion of said strip is moved towards saidhandle.

BLACKWELL K. MURCHISON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 466,293 Peer Dec. 29, 1891 726,974 McLeran May 5, 19081,414,172 Brown Apr. 25, 1922 2,114,106 Geveke Apr. 12, 1938 2,420,814Clark May 20, 1947 2,469,258 Brockley May 3, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 21,849 Switzerland June 30, 1900 118,007 Germany Apr. 12,1900

